Folding seat

ABSTRACT

A portable folding seat has a fabric seat supported in an open position by support rods and a rigid support tube. In an open position, the support tube acts as a pedestal for the seat and is removably affixed to a mounting surface. The folding seat may be folded into a retracted position such that the fabric seat is completely collapsed.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a folding seat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable, folding seat suitable for use on open-deck boats and similar applications.

2. Description of Related Art

Seats of various types and configurations are well known in the art. Similarly, folding seats and chairs of various designs are also well known. On boats, such as open-deck boats used primarily for fishing and recreational purposes, boat chairs typically comprise a hard seat base and back rest structure, often covered with padding. Such seat structures are typically supported by a pedestal, and are rotatably mounted to the deck of a boat. A common means of mounting said pedestal to the boat deck comprises a rod extending vertically downward from the seat structure which is received within a mounting bracket on the deck of the boat.

On boats designed primarily for fishing, especially vessels commonly referred to as “bass boats,” seats are positioned toward the bow of the boat for use during fishing. However, when the boat is underway, standard seats may obstruct the visibility of the boat driver. While some existing seats are removable from their deck mounting, frequently there is no safe or secure position in which to stow them while the boat is underway.

During the fishing process, it is often desirable to move about the deck of the boat. The large size of existing boat seats of the prior art reduce available deck space and may make such movement inconvenient or even dangerous. Moreover, due to the: nature of existing boat seats, such seats are typically exposed to sunlight and weather for extended periods of time. Such exposure can damage and significantly reduce the usable life of such seats.

Open-deck fishing boats, as described herein, are often used by fishermen who compete in fishing tournaments and/or other events. Sponsors and/or other parties frequently seek to achieve advertising exposure by prominently displaying their names, logos or marks during such events, or at other similar times. One of the most prominent features of a fishing boat upon which names, logos and/or marks can be displayed is the seat. However, materials and construction of such prior art seats do not readily lend themselves to such display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The folding seat of the present invention provides a pliable seat/support base and seat back which may be completely retracted for storage. A rod extends vertically, and may be rotatably mounted to a desired surface. For example, the seat of the present invention can be rotatably mounted to the deck of a boat in the same manner as boat seats of the prior art. As such, such rod can serve as a pedestal for the seat of the present invention while such seat is in use. The folding seat is free to rotate about the longitudinal axis of said vertical rod. During the period that the boat is underway, or at such other times as may be desirable, the vertical rod, with the folding seat retracted therein, may remain mounted to the boat deck without obstructing the visibility of a boat driver. Alternatively, the retracted seat of the present invention can be removed from the mounting bracket and securely stored.

A removable seat of the present invention can be made of fabric or similar material. Such seat can be beneficially removable to protect it from sunlight, weather and/or other environmental factors. Further, the seat of the present invention provides a surface for prominently displaying a name, logo, mark or other desired image.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a folding seat which can be retracted.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding seat which, when used on a boat and retracted, does not obstruct the visibility of a boat driver.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding seat which is compact and can be easily stowed, such as in a storage compartment of a boat.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding seat employing a pliable fabric which provides a visible surface for prominently displaying a name, logo, mark or other desired image. Alternatively, the compact size of the seat of the present invention allows it to be removed and easily stowed in a storage compartment of a boat or other similar storage space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the folding seat of the present invention in a substantially open position.

FIG. 2 depicts a detail perspective view of sliding plate and seat support rods of the present invention with seat fabric removed.

FIG. 2A depicts an enlarged detail view of a portion of the structure depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 depicts a partial side section view of the folding seat of the present invention in a substantially open position.

FIG. 4 depicts a partial side section view of the folding seat of the present invention in a substantially retracted position.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternate embodiment of the seat of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of folding seat 10, a portion of boat deck 20, and mounting bracket 30. Boat deck 20 and mounting bracket 30 are not a part of the present invention and are shown in FIG. 1 only for descriptive purposes. Mounting bracket 30, as shown, represents any of several designs of similar mounting brackets currently in use. Mounting bracket 30 is rigidly attached to boat deck 20. Folding seat 10 is mounted to boat deck 20 utilizing mounting bracket 30. Folding seat 10 further comprises pedestal assembly 50. Mounting rod 90 extends downward from the base of pedestal assembly 50 and is slidably and rotatably received within bore 31 of mounting bracket 30; however, in FIG. 1, folding seat 10 is shown disposed above mounting bracket 30 as in an exploded view.

Folding seat 10 has an open position as depicted in FIG. 1. In such open position, folding seat 10 is configured to receive and support a user, ideally in a sitting-position. Sliding plate 110 is slidably disposed on pedestal assembly 50. Sliding plate 110 and pedestal assembly 50 are coaxially aligned. In such open position, sliding plate 110 is disposed near upper surface 102 of pedestal assembly 50. Seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130 are pivotally attached to the upper surface of sliding plate 110 via clevis mounts 111.

Still referring to FIG. 1, fabric seat 135 is suspended in a conventional “cup-like” configuration by seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130. Corners 136 of fabric seat 135 are attached to distal ends 121 of seat base support rods 120 and distal ends 131 of seat back support rods 130. In the preferred embodiment, such distal ends 121 and 131 are received within pockets on fabric seat 135; however, it is possible that other attachment means could be used for this purpose. By way of illustration, but not limitation, such attachment means can include rivets, hook-and-loop type fasteners and the like.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A depict detail perspective views of folding seat 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A, fabric seat 135, and one seat support rod 120 are removed from view for illustration purposes. Sliding plate 110 includes a plurality clevis brackets 111 on the upper surface 112 of sliding plate 110. Each clevis bracket 111 comprises two vertical plates 140 extending upward from the upper surface 112 of sliding plate 110.

Each vertical plate 140 of each clevis bracket 111 has a medial face 142, and a horizontal through-hole 144. For each clevis bracket 111, medial faces 142 of the two vertical plates 140 of said clevis bracket 111 are parallel and are disposed from each other symmetrically about a radial center-line by a distance which is slightly greater than the width of seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130. Further, for each clevis bracket 111, through-holes 144 of each vertical plate 140 are coaxial and aligned with one another.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2A, seat back support rods 130 each have a transverse hole 134 near their proximal ends 132. Transverse hole 134 of one seat back support rod 130 is seen in FIG. 2A. Similarly, seat support rods 120 have transverse holes 124, substantially similar to transverse holes 134 of seat back support rods 130, near their proximal ends 122.

With particular reference to FIG. 2A, end 132 of a first seat back support rod 130 is disposed between the vertical plates 140 of a first clevis bracket 111 such that transverse hole 134 of first seat back support rod 130 is aligned with and coaxial to horizontal through-holes 144 of vertical plates 140 of said clevis bracket 111. A first hinge pin 126 is disposed within aligned through-holes 144 of vertical plates 140 of said clevis bracket 111, as well as transverse hole 134 of said seat back support rod 130. As such, seat back support rod 130 is pivotally attached to upper surface 112 of sliding plate 110 by pin 126 using clevis bracket 111.

In a similar manner, proximal ends 122 of first and second seat base support rods 120 are disposed between vertical plates 140 of clevis brackets 111, and are pivotally attached thereto by pins 126. As such, as each seat base support rod 120 and each seat back support rod 130 pivot about their respective pin 126, said seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130 sweep within vertical, radial, orthogonal planes. If desired, downward travel of seat base support rods can be limited by inclusion of an additional member (not shown in the drawings) that would block such downward travel.

FIG. 3 depicts a side sectional view of folding seat 10 of the present invention, including pedestal assembly 50. Pedestal assembly 50 comprises mounting rod 90, sliding plate 110, locking pin 210, coil spring 200 and vertical support tube 160. Vertical support tube 160 is a substantially vertical tube having a longitudinal surface 162. In the preferred embodiment, longitudinal surface 162 is substantially flat; however, it is to be observed that such surface 162 is not absolutely required to be flat. Surface 162 has a radial upper hole 164 and a radial lower hole 166.

In the preferred embodiment, mounting rod 90 is substantially cylindrical and has an upper diameter 92, a middle diameter 94 and a lower diameter 96. Lower diameter 96 of mounting rod 90 can be slidably and rotatably received within hole 31 of mounting bracket 30 as described earlier. Lower diameter 96 of mounting rod 90 is suitably long so as to engage substantially the entire length of hole 31 of mounting bracket 30. Upper diameter 92 of mounting rod 90 fits slidably and rotatably within inside diameter 161 of vertical support tube 160. Upper diameter 92 of mounting rod 90 is sufficiently long such that typical side forces or moments applied to vertical support tube 160 are transmitted to upper diameter 92 of mounting rod 90 without inducing excessive contact stresses within upper diameter 92 of mounting rod 90 or within inside diameter 161 of vertical support tube 160.

In the preferred embodiment, middle diameter 94 of mounting rod 90 is relatively short and is larger than lower diameter 96 and upper diameter 92 of mounting rod 90. As such, middle diameter 94 defines an upper shoulder 93 and a lower shoulder 95. In the preferred embodiment, at least two bearing washers 99 are disposed coaxially about upper diameter 92 of mounting rod 90 between upper shoulder 93 of middle diameter 94 and bottom surface 168 of vertical support tube 160. Bearing washers 99 are ideally constructed of a material with high lubricity (such as, for example, nylon), to reduce rotational friction between bottom surface 168 of vertical support tube 160 and upper shoulder 93 of middle diameter 94. Lower shoulder 95 of middle diameter 94 contacts upper surface 32 of mounting bracket 30. As such, downward forces, namely the weight of a user, applied to vertical support tube 160 are transmitted from bottom surface 168 of vertical support tube 160, through bearing washers, 99, through middle diameter 94 of mounting rod 90 to top surface 32 of mounting bracket 30.

Sliding plate 110 comprises spring housing 114 which extends radially outward from sliding plate 110. Spring housing 114 has end cap 116. End cap 116 has central hole 118. Locking pin 210 has handle 214, shaft 212, flange 216 and boss 218. Locking pin 210 is coaxially disposed relative to spring housing 114. Shaft 212 of locking pin 210 is slidably received within hole 118 of end cap 116 of spring housing 114. Flange 216 of locking pin 210 is also slidably received within spring housing 114. Spring 200 is disposed within spring housing 114 between end cap 116 of spring housing 114 and flange 216 of locking pin 210. Spring 200 exerts an inward biasing force against flange 216 of locking pin 212.

In an open position, sliding plate 110 is disposed such that boss 218 of locking pin 212 is aligned with upper hole 164 in vertical support tube 160. As such, in said open position, spring 200 biases boss 218 of locking pin 212 into upper hole 164 of vertical support tube 160, thereby restraining sliding plate 110 from sliding vertically along the length of vertical support tube 160. Shaft 212 of locking pin 210 extends radially outward. Handle 214 is disposed at the outer end of shaft 212 of locking pin 210. In the preferred embodiment, handle 214 is a flat, circular plate which may be grasped by a user's fingers to pull locking pin 210 radially outward, thereby compressing spring 200 and disengaging boss 218 of locking pin 210 from upper hole 164 of vertical support tube 160 and, thereby, permitting sliding plate 110 to travel along the length of vertical support tube 160.

Referring to FIG. 4, folding seat 10 further has a retracted position. In such retracted position, sliding plate 110 is disposed downward along support tube 160 such that boss 218 of locking pin 210 is coaxial to lower hole 166 of vertical support tube 160. As such, boss 218 of locking pin 210 is biased into lower hole 166 of support tube 160 by spring 200, and sliding plate 110 is thereby restrained from sliding vertically along the length of vertical support tube 160. Seat support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130 are positioned in a substantially vertical orientation in proximity to vertical support tube 160.

In operation, folding seat 10 can be easily transfigured from a retracted position to open position. Locking pin 210 is manually retracted from lower hole 166 of vertical support tube 160, and sliding plate 110 is lifted vertically until boss 218 of locking pin 210 is oriented adjacent and coaxial to upper hole 164 of vertical support tube 160. In this position, boss 218 of locking pin 210 is biased into upper hole 164 of vertical support tube 160 by spring 200, and sliding plate 110 is thereby restrained from sliding along the length of vertical support tube 160. Seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130 are rotated about pins 126 such that fabric seat 135 is suspended in open position as described above.

Similarly, folding seat 10 is transfigured from open position to retracted position by rotating seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130 about pins 126 such that seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130 are in a substantially vertical position. Fabric seat 135 is removed from seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130. Locking pin 210 is manually retracted from upper hole 164 of vertical support tube 160, and sliding plate 110 is directed downward until boss 218 of locking pin 210 is coaxial to lower hole 166 of vertical support tube 160. As such, boss 218 of locking pin 210 is biased into lower hole 166 of vertical support tube 160 by spring 200, and sliding plate 110 is thereby restrained from sliding vertically along the length of vertical support tube 160. In a retracted position, folding seat 10 may be removed from mounting bracket 30 and placed in a convenient and/or secure storage location.

FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of fabric seat 135 having central aperture 137. As discussed in detail above, said fabric seat 135 can be suspended in a conventional “cup-like” configuration by seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130. Corners 136 of fabric seat 135 are attached to distal ends 121 of seat base support rods 120 and distal ends 131 of seat back support rods 130. In the preferred embodiment, such distal ends 121 and 131 are received within pockets on fabric seat 135; however, it is possible that other attachment means could be used for this purpose. By way of illustration, but not limitation, such attachment means can include rivets, hook-and-loop type fasteners and the like.

When retracting folding seat 10 from an open position to a retracted position, fabric seat can be removed from seat base support rods 120 and seat back support rods 130. When the alternative fabric seat 135 depicted in FIG. 5 is utilized, folding seat 10 can be retracted without the need to remove said fabric seat 135. In such instances, vertical support tube 160 can pass through central aperture 137 of fabric seat 135; in this manner, fabric seat 135 can fit over and/or around vertical support tube 160. Folding seat 10 can thus be fully retracted without having to remove fabric seat 135.

While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations of the scope of the present invention. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in the context of a boat mounting, it is to be observed that the folding chair of the present invention can be beneficially employed in any number of other environments. Numerous alternative embodiments are contemplated, such as a lower support means whereby folding seat 10 may be placed on any flat surface and the addition of arm rests to the fabric seat. Further, the pedestal assembly may be constructed in shapes other than the cylinder described herein; for example, the pedestal assembly may be oval, square, rectangular or other shape. Also, the spring-biased locking pin described herein may be replaced with a threaded set-screw locking assembly, and said apparatus may also include a mounting device for an optional umbrella or other accessory.

Whereas the invention is herein described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it should be realized that the above described and other various changes may be made without departing from the essential contributions to the art made by teachings hereof. 

1. A folding seat comprising: a. a rigid elongate member; b. a plate slidably disposed on said rigid elongate member; c. a plurality of rods pivotally attached to said plate; d. a flexible cover attached to said rods; and e. means for locking said plate in at least one position along said elongate member.
 2. The folding seat of claim 1, wherein said flexible cover is fabric.
 3. The folding seat of claim 1, wherein said flexible cover comprises at least one aperture.
 4. The folding seat of claim 3, wherein said at least one aperture is aligned with said rigid elongate member.
 5. The folding seat of claim 1, wherein said means for locking said plate comprises: a. at least one indentation in said elongate member; b. a hole disposed in said plate, wherein said hole is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongate member; c. a pin slidably received within said hole; and d. a spring biasing said pin toward said at least one indentation in said elongate member.
 7. A folding seat comprising: a. a rigid elongate member having a first end, second end, a length; b. a plate slidably disposed on said elongate member; c. a plurality of clevis brackets attached to said plate; d. a plurality of rods pivotally attached to said clevis brackets; e. a flexible cover attached to said rods; and f. means for locking said plate in position along said elongate member.
 8. The folding seat of claim 7, wherein said means for locking said plate comprises: a. at least one indentation in said elongate member; b. a hole disposed in said plate, wherein said hole is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongate member; c. a pin slidably received within said hole; and d. a spring biasing said pin toward said at least one indentation in said elongate member.
 9. A folding seat comprising: a. a rigid elongate member; b. a collapsible seat disposed on said rigid elongate, wherein said seat comprises a substantially horizontal base section and a substantially vertical back section; and c. means for collapsing said seat along said elongate rigid member. 